The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-02-12
THREE GREAT FAMILIES.
Social Influence of the New York Wander
bits, Potters and Fields.

bits, Potters and Fields.
accidentally encountered 5000, O00,-
900 in small jewelry store on Fifth
avenue few days ago. 1t was more
than 5000, 000, 900, now that l think of
it, for there were three men in the
group; the oldest was Mr.. Cornelius
Vanderbilt, who was pale, clerical and
solemn looking, with pleasant express
sion of the eye, and a tendency to lean
against posts and show cases. Beside
him stood his brother, William X. Van
darbilt, in the most irreproachable of
English clothes, with his mutton-chop
wtliskers brushed back from a weak,
two men chatting amiably with them
was Dr. Seward Webb. their brother-in-
law. DR.. Webb is the most popular of
the men who have married into this
family. The three men represented a
vast amount of money, and they all en-
tered the shop together to spend exactly
twenty-five cents for new crystal for
Cornelius watch.
What struck me at the time as being
most notable was the influence which q
great New York family, like the Van
derbilts, possess. Take DIR. Seward
Webb, for instance; he was a surgeon
in st. Luke's Hospital when old Mrs.
Vanderbilt took her daughter there one
day on visit of charity to the sick.
The daughter fell in love with the young
surgeon, married him, and, on the death
| of William H., DIR. Webb inherited $10,-
000,0 and an interest in the main por-
ton Of the estate. He became presi-
dent Of one of the largest downtown
stock firms, was made director in the
wealthest trust company in the country,
and became identified at once with the
Lincoln Bank and other great institu-
tons. Now he wanderS about, the
friend of millionaires, the most welcome
of visitors to the boxes in the Opera
House, and pleasant and agreeable
man about town. He is tiick-set, heavy
faced and not at all distinguished in
appearance, but evidently very good
fellow.
Another of the great families in New
York is just now being talked about
through the death of its head, Bishop
Potter. The Potter family must feel
rather lonely now that it has only one
Bishop left in its ranks. Its first Bishop
was Alonzo Potter, of Pennsylvania.
I've was the father of the late Clarkson
Pnttnt. Hnt,vot,I D,fta,, fba Ian ,l-a1 Il
Eliphalet Potter, the president of Hobart
College. Howard Potter is the father
OF James Brown Potter, whose wife is
studying for the stage
The second Bishop was Bishop Horatio
Potter, of the diocese of New York, who
died recently at the advanced age of
eighty-five years. He leaves two daugh-
tiers and one son, who is a professor in
q Southern university. A third Bishops
Helry Goldman Potter, also son of
Bishop Alonzo Potter, and lately the
assistant Bishop of the diocese of New
York. The chances are that President
Potter will be a Bishop before he dies,
He is the handsomest member of the
family, has distinguished presence
and is an eloquent speaker. He was
made president of Union College when
only thirty-oney years ofage, and the diff
culties got into there were probably due
to his youth and inexperience. He is do
ing better as president of Hobart College.
Perhaps the third in Importance in
the great New York families, outside of
the pure commercial aspect, is the Field
family. Indeed it may be said that the
Fields permeate the intellectual and
venturesome fields of American life.
They have everywhere pushed them
selves to the head in great enterprises,
in the law, and in education. Every
body knows who David Dudley, Cyrus
W., Mr.. Justice Field and President
Field, of Williams College, are, but be-
sides these four brothers, the sons,
nephews and cousins .innumerable are
quartered in New York and, of course,
successful, for the influence of the Field
family is enough to build up a man in
any walk of life here. For instance,
Cyrus w. Field, Jr., went into one Of
the most successful brokerage houses in
this city backed by no other capital
than his name.
These are three of New York's great
families, and no matter how poor and
distant a relation of any one of them
may be, he is sure of success if backed
/ by the influence of his kinsmen here.
So there is something in family after
! all.-Amos j. Cummings and BLabeJy
Hull, in Philadelphia Press.